Coach Matthew Primus has demanded his senior players, including ruck recruit Brent Renouf, lead Port Adelaide from the AFL doldrums with a win against Richmond on Sunday.

The clash looms as a tipping point in the season for both clubs, who each hold 1-4 win-loss records.

Primus has been heartened by improvement in his younger players, but called on a senior core to lift.

“But we have got a lot of young players who are learning how to play the game and they’re going to make some blues.

“And that is why we really need our senior experienced guys who have played quite a bit of footy to start playing some of their best footy.

“If we do that, it gives us a great opportunity to win.”

Primus singled out the Power’s experienced onballers as needing to better support tenacious captain Dom Cassisi.

“Dom didn’t have a great first half last week,” he said.

“But before that he had been really consistent for us – really the only onballer who had been putting pressure on, who had been tackling, who had been winning enough of his own ball.

“He hadn’t had great support in that regard.

“We need more guys to support the work he does in and under.”

Tap-man Renouf was recruited from Hawthorn but has struggled after injury curtailed his output, with Primus concerned at Port being “beaten in ruck all year”.

“We’re expecting a big game out of Brent this week though, he has got to play better than what he has,” Primus said.

“I think our rucks really haven’t been a dominant force for us, there is not one stand-out guy in good form.

“Brent has been able to sustain it longer and longer over the last two weeks.

“Form wise, getting kicks and handballs – I’m not too fazed on that.

“It’s the ability to compete in the ruck for an extended period of time.

“We’re looking for him to step it up.”

Primus said the midfield would be crucial against Richmond’s onball brigade headed by Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio and Dustin Martin.

“Their onball group is really good,” Primus said of the Tigers.

“They bat pretty deep in there now, so that is what is going to make them dangerous.”